Yarn and fabric



W 1949. G. BLOQH 2,465,9

YARN AND FABRIC Filed Oct. 4, 1946 "L /3 F/IBR/C INVENTOR. GODFALY 540019 ATTO/P/VfKS Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICEYARN AND FABRIC Godfrey Bloch, New York, N. Y.

Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,270

' Claims.

This invention relates to yarn and fabric and fabric-making materialsand more especially to materials composed of synthetic textile fibers,such as fibers composed of cellulose acetate, saran (vinylidenechloride), vinyon, nylon, etc.

Fabrics produced from yarns composed of synthetic fibers have heretoforebeen subject to the objectionable feature that after washing they havelost a good deal of such warmth as they have. Initially some fabricshave had considerable dead air space which has been responsible forthewarmth characteristic of the goods. The air space has resulted from theposition of the fibers in spun yarn accentuated by the crimp of theartificial fibers sometimes heightened by special crimping processesduring manufacture of the fibers. However, upon washing, the fibers sliprelative to each other despite their crimp and move into closer relationto each other, thereby reducing or largely eliminating the dead airspace with consequent loss of warmth by the fabric, Loftiness of feeland resilience may also be lost thereby.

An object of thisinvention is to prevent the slippage of artificialfibers relative to each other in a fabric made up of yarns composed ofsuch filaments whereby the fabric will retain its warmth characteristic.

Acording to this invention, artificial fibers, preferably crimped and ofresilient structure, are spun into yarns in the normal manner, andinsofar as the spinning operation lessens the crimp, the crimp issomewhat restored by wetting (as in subsequent finishing operations) asis now known, or according to the chemistry may be restored by extremechanges in temperature. Subsequently, the yarn is treated for thepurpose of plasticizing the filaments sufficiently that they will becomeinterjoined at their interstices and remain interjoined after treatment.Preferably, the treatment of the fibers may be effected by radiant heat,such as short wave length heat or by what is sometimes colloquiallycalled electronic annealing, which will heat the interior of the yarnsand fibers as well as the intersections thereof and surface heat isdissipated by air if desired. Such heating may be of the type describedin the trade as induction heating, or dielectric heating, but it is heremeant to include all forms of device: or methods which transfer energyin sufficient quantity to elevate the temperature to accomplish thepurpose. Other treatments for effecting bonding of the fibers atintersections thereof may be made use of. In this way, slippage of thefibers relativeto each other is effectively prevented and the dead airspaces formed in the yarn by reason of the crimps in the fibers areretained in the yarn after washing. Conequently, fabrics made from yarnproduced in accordance with the invention retain their warmth afterwashing. Reliance may sometimes be placed on the manner of spinning inwhole or in part rather than on crimp in fibers. For instance, fibersspun on the wool system will by that fact alone be so placed as toenclose large air content. Even in cotton spinning, variations inprocedure may enhance air content.

The yarn thus produced has many of the desirable characterictics of woolyarn and in many rezpects is an equivalent of or a substitute for woolyarn. As such, it may be used in place of wool yarn for weaving orknitting with excellent results. Like wool yarn, the yarn of thisinvention may constitute a fibrous air trap in which purposely distortedartificialfibers enclose within the yarn relatively large bodies of air.The

fibers are fastened to each other at least at some of their points ofcontact whereby their arrangement is maintained irrespective of cleaningand flexing of wear so that the air content will be maintained in theyarn.

The drawing in Fig. 1 illustrates on a greatly enlarged scale andsomewhat schematically a section of yarn embodying the invention. Fig. 2is a plan view on-an enlarged scale and diagrammatically of fabricembodying yarn of this invention. In Fig. 1, the yarn as a whole isdesignated by thereference character Ill and is composed of crimpedfibers ll interjoined at at least some of their point: of contact. Bondsbetween contacting fibers are indicated by the reference character l2.By reason of the interconnection of the fibers slippage thereof relativeto each other is effectively prevented and the advantages above pointedout result.

The invention is not limited to the use of thermoplastic fibers as otherfibers may be used providing they are effectively bonded together. Theaction of bonding the fibers to. each other may be applied to a woven(or conceivably knitted) fabric as well as to yarns.- In that case, thebinding of the croisings of one yarn over another will cause a loss offlexibility. Toward restoring some lost flexibility, the fabrics (aswell as certain yarns) may be subjected to mechanical flexing which willrestore flexibility by breaking some adhesions and loosening others. Amachine like a button machine may be used.

This invention may be made use of in blends aeeaeee with fibers other.thansynthetic iibers. l 'or ex-v ample, natural wool might be used; inpart ior its own qualities and viscose rayon or cotton might beadmixed-because of the fact that they have moisture absorption.

The yarn above described may be advantageously used in the production ofwrinkle-resistant iabric suitable for summer wear, similar to theso-called 'v'tropical worsteds." For this purpose, yarns Ila (Fig. 2)having-bonded artificial fibers are hard twisted in the known manner andthen a fabric I3 is woven therefrom in theusual manner; Such fabric-hasall the advantages of a tropical worsted with respect to wrinkleresistance and constitutes a very'satisfactory summerwear material.v I

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's co-pe'ndingapplication, Serial No. 530,938 filed April 13, 1944, now abandoned.

In the claims .crimped" is meant'toinclude any deviation in fibers froma straight line, however brought about, 'sufiicient toaccompiish thepurposes 01' this invention. I claim: v 1. As a substitute for wool, aproduct composed of purposely distorted artificial filamentary fibersspun into yarn form and having multiple points of contact, thedistortion of the fibers forming myriad air pockets, said fibers beingfixed togather at points of intersection to maintain the fibers in theiroriginal positions and prevent relative movement thereof therebyretaining said air pockets in the yarn.

2. As a substitute for wool, a product comprising-crimped.artificial-staple fibers in yarn form and having multiple points-oicontact and the crimp forming myriad air pockets, said fibers beingintegraliyfinterioinedat points .of intersection to maintain theirfibers inTelative position and :prevent movement therefrom, therebyretaining said air pockets in the yarn.

1 .3. A product composed of crimped and resilient artificial filamentsin yarn form, the filaments having multiple'points oi-contact and thecrimp forming myriad air pockets comparable to those contained inwoolyarn. said filaments being fixed together at points of intersectionto maintain the fibers'intheir position andprevent relativemovement'thereoi', thereby retaining-said air pockets in the ram. 1 a

4.- Fabric made from yarn-according to claim 2.

5. Fabric made from yarns accordingto claim .u -2 from, which some ofthe air content has been eliminated by hard twisting of the yarnswhereby to produce a resilient-fabric.

- GODFREY-moon.

REFERENCES I The following references. are otz recordinfthe' file ofthis patent: v v

' STATES PATENTS 7 Number 7 Name. Date v arrests Har 'Qct. 3,19392,253,999 Wallach Aug, 9, 1941

